Flight crew of a B727-200 responded to a GPWS warning by climbing off of assigned approach altitude.

Attributes
ACN	364277
Time
Date	199703
Day	Wed
Local Time Of Day	0001 To 0600
Place
Locale Reference	airport : tys
State Reference	TN
Altitude	msl bound lower : 2500 msl bound upper : 3600
Environment
Flight Conditions	IMC
Light	Night
Aircraft 1
Controlling Facilities	tracon : tys
Operator	common carrier : air carrier
Make Model Name	B727-200
Operating Under FAR Part	Part 121
Flight Phase	descent : approach
Flight Plan	IFR
Person 1
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : captain oversight : pic
Qualification	other other : other pilot : atp pilot : instrument pilot : flight engineer pilot : commercial
Experience	flight time last 90 days : 60 flight time total : 13000 flight time type : 7000
ASRS Report	364277
Person 2
Affiliation	company : air carrier
Function	flight crew : first officer
Qualification	pilot : commercial pilot : instrument
Events
Anomaly	altitude deviation : excursion from assigned altitude other anomaly other other spatial deviation
Independent Detector	other flight crewa
Resolutory Action	flight crew : took evasive action flight crew : returned to intended course or assigned course
Consequence	Other
Supplementary
Primary Problem	Aircraft
Air Traffic Incident	other

Narrative:

While turning to intercept the localizer for runway 23R at knoxville, tn, the GPWS activated with 'terrain, terrain.' we were at our assigned altitude, 28 degree angle of bank, and 235 KIAS. There is no terrain in that area that should activate the GPWS. The autoplt was disengaged and a climb to 3600 ft MSL was initiated (without clearance). The system silenced itself at approximately 3500 ft MSL. After informing approach of the problem, they vectored us back around for another ILS approach to runway 23R. The second approach was made without incident and was terminated with an uneventful landing.

Original NASA ASRS Text

Title: FLC OF A B727-200 RESPONDED TO A GPWS WARNING BY CLBING OFF OF ASSIGNED APCH ALT.

Narrative: WHILE TURNING TO INTERCEPT THE LOC FOR RWY 23R AT KNOXVILLE, TN, THE GPWS ACTIVATED WITH 'TERRAIN, TERRAIN.' WE WERE AT OUR ASSIGNED ALT, 28 DEG ANGLE OF BANK, AND 235 KIAS. THERE IS NO TERRAIN IN THAT AREA THAT SHOULD ACTIVATE THE GPWS. THE AUTOPLT WAS DISENGAGED AND A CLB TO 3600 FT MSL WAS INITIATED (WITHOUT CLRNC). THE SYS SILENCED ITSELF AT APPROX 3500 FT MSL. AFTER INFORMING APCH OF THE PROB, THEY VECTORED US BACK AROUND FOR ANOTHER ILS APCH TO RWY 23R. THE SECOND APCH WAS MADE WITHOUT INCIDENT AND WAS TERMINATED WITH AN UNEVENTFUL LNDG.

Data retrieved from NASA's ASRS site as of July 2007 and automatically converted to unabbreviated mixed upper/lowercase text. This report is for informational purposes with no guarantee of accuracy. See NASA's ASRS site for official report.